MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY 2006 TO ALL
Before I forget, I must confess this 2005 has not been - by no means - an "easy" year... Not at all! Maybe the same thing happens with my readers - all over! Well, we should not dismay, faint or something... NO! God Himself has new and blessed plans to each one of us, in the coming year 2006! How do I know it? I just know it -and you should believe me. Better saying: believe Him (Jesus Christ). Not to believe in something, or someone above us, is something very frustrating - devastating, to some extent. People get depressed easily when they do not have a target, someone to share their feelings, their emotions, their projects for the future.

In 2006, may the lord Jesus Christ be upon your life in order to bless you in every possible way. May all your dreams come true in 2006. Remember: if you got a dream not true, then that's the best for you. He knows better than you do... but he sees your tears and prayers... and shall confort you ... in every way.

May Chidiac - lebanese journalist, will soon be back

Lebanon1' prominent TV anchorwoman was mutilated in assassination attempt on September 25, reported the LBC TV, in Lebanon. She is known for her courage in criticizing Syria, when no one could even utter a word. Chidiac is 40 years old and a rightist journalist.

She described the assassination attempt: "I turned to the back seat to put something and someone pressed a button to detonate the bomb. In a split second, I flew to back seat and saw my severed arm in front of me. At that time, I had not realised that I had also lost my leg".

Chidiac works in a christian TV and declared that she should be back to work as soon as prosthetic limbs are made for her. It is clear that the evil hands are still everywhere - especially in the middle east, reported an important lebanese journalist. The cowardly attackers tried to stop the voice of freedom in Lebanon, but did not succeed. The whole world repudiate such act of terror and violence against Chidiac. Peace on earth - mainly in the Midlle East.

VARIG - Brazilian Airlines...

In Brazil, newspapers today, 18/11, report that Varig - one of the biggest arlines in the world - has been undergoing a massive economic turbulence. 150 pilots were fired because they have no planes to fly! There are 16 jets in the ground in need of maintainance! (another jet-company!). Pilots had been receiving their wages monthly - although not in operation. Varig lost 346 millions of U S Dollars in the last three monthes!

Varig representatives have been trying to negotiate some loans with brazilian government in order to overcome this difficult moment. TAP (portuguese state airline) has been in talks with Varig in search of a joint-venture. Maybe this might really help to save the brazilian Varig.

On the other hand, if you, dear reader, like to fly, Varig Training Center, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, offers you a Flight Simulator (real one!) for USD 190,00 a day plus 5 per cent state taxes! The good thing: you could help Varig to survive and, who knows, you may start your pilot career...

Democracy in the Islamic World...

Please read my previous article about "Paris on Fire", where I said that there is not any, repeat, any democracy in the islamic world - a real misfortune.

Today, 17.11.2005, newspapers all over the world state that in Saudi Arabia, a teacher has just been condemned to be beated 750 times! plus three years in prison simply because he had been - in classroom - discussing with his students about judaism and christianism! The discussion was considered to be a "blasphemy" against Islamism! This happened in the city of Bukhaira.

Saudi Arabia is an extremely rich country - due to petroleum, but an equally extremely poor nation - due to the medieval views of their governors. We must all assume that Saudi Citizens might not agree with such a behaviour. Well, at least not ALL of them agree...

Paris on Fire!

It's been almost a whole month that Paris has been burning by the actions of immigrants and french-born people. The riots began after the death of two teenagers on October 27 and have since spread all over France. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's got to extend emergency powers by three monthes. President Jacques Chirac says that rioters have a point, but violence is not the way to make it...

Matter of fact, racial prejudice is very, very strong in France. Now what to do? That's the big question! Chirac and other french leaders should act now. Other european countries frightened... because they have not been acting much differently from France...

Last, but not least, we should all consider the fact that many immigrants and french-born teens are muslins. Islamism does not melt with democracy - unfortunately. There is not any, repeat, any democracy in the islamic world. To make it short: when muslins immigrants come from Argelia, marrocos and other ex-french colonies, they all bring their culture, their views, their religion to France. They do not want to adequate themselves to the new country, to the new culture, to the new "way-of-life" in France. They just keep being much the same way... and start rioting for anything they consider wrong, unfair, etc.

Both are guilty: France and immigrants + french-born teens. "France belongs to all citizens", shouted Chirac. Bingo! There is a long way to go...

Get to know Fortaleza!

This is short note to show the place where I live: Fortaleza, population 2.000.000 inhabitants. Full of attractions - day or night. It's worth a visit. You should come by and taste our hospitality!

Bush in Brazil: November 5-6, 2005

Bush came to Brasilia, capital of Brazil, last Saturday 5, 2005. He had been to Mar del Plata - Argentina, to take part in the America's Hemisphere Meeting which, in fact, was not succesfull at all. Bush departed from Argentina before the summit ended! He had to meet the brazilian president Lula da Silva.

In Brazil, everything had been arranged to welcome Bush: hotel fully reserved + 250 special american agents + thousand of brazilian agents, etc. Bush has not been welcomed wherever he goes... Why would that be?

a. Bush invaded Afganistan;
b. Bush invaded Iraq;
c. ONU, previously disrespected by Bush, now authorized him to stay one year more in Iraq;
d. Bush policy to Latin America has not been a good one - as usual.

Bush has been forcing the Free Trade of Americas to be accepted by all - regardless of what other countries think about it - mainly Mercosur people: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Bush listens to all, but wants to do what he thinks to be right. That's all and the true fact! The Free Trade of Americas will not be put into force until some fair and equal consensus comes up - for the benefit of all, of all and not only to the US as the dominant economic power.

Last, but not least, US, at first, stopped purchasing meat from Brazil due to a disease on our cattle (foot and mouth disease).Brazil is world's top beef-selling nation. Over 45 nations banned imports of beef from Brazil since the outbreak happened on October 10, 2005. President Lula offered a barbecue to Bush - okay, not with FMD, but from ranches in that state - Mato Grosso, just to prove that the meat is in perfect condition to be consumed.

Both Bush and Lula da Silva had talks for couple of hours - altogether. Bush's idea is to support Lula as a leading force-influence in South America and, at the same time, avoid Hugo Chavez's fiery and populist speeches to keep spreading communism all over this important region of the globe.

Lula asked Bush to lessen subsidies given to the farmers in US, for this has been avoiding brazilian products to enter US market. Likewise, Bush declared to do it in case Europe also lessened their subsidies to farmers over there. Let's wait and see...

Bush regreted for not being able to visit "beautiful Brazil"... but promised to accept Lula's invitation to come back here and go fishing with Lula - soon after both leave presidencies behind.

Lula + Chavez + Fidel = ?????

The whole world - USA, mainly - has been watching the moves of these three gentlemen. They have been always together on every forum to discuss subjects like: famine, corruption, economy, etc. Quick analysis of each one of them:

a. Lula: elected in 2002 to change the economy, the social gap, the corruption, etc., in Brazil. However, until today, 2.11.2005, Lula himself and his PT (labour's party, left wing) have been totally involved in scandals, corruption, etc.!! The opponents have been now requesting Lula's resignation. The unemployment rate in Brazil is very high - c.19pct. Economy stuck. However, the bankers have been celebrating the "wonderful times" in Brazil. For instance: a banker gets money outside Brazil at 2-3pct a year and lends inside Brazil at 12pct a month!!! a month!!! This is heavens on earth indeed!, for bankers. What a shame! Shame on you, Mr. Lula. Off Lula!

b. Fidel: assassin of over 17.000 citizens in Cuba, since he took office back in 1959. He usually shoots opponents in the ''paredon''. No democracy in Cuba at all. By the way, some ministers of Lula's government have been trained in Cuba... not long ago...Some congressmen, too.

c. Chavez (Hugo): elected by people in Venezuela. Populist, communist, has been arming his people to defend the country against a possible (?) invasion of USA in search for petroleum... Matter of fact, Chavez is a problem of Venezuela. Pat Robertson, american preacher, republican, had the insane action of suggesting his government to go and "eliminate" Chavez. "It would be safer, this way", declared the famour preacher! What a stupid declaration of a preacher! Chavez became very upset with such an insane declaration and demanded some action from US Government against his preacher.

On the other hand, we do know that many businessmen, executives in Venezuela have been taking the money at banks and flying away to Europe, US or other neighbouring country. Reason? The instability that Chavez causes since he took office. This is a real fact.

Recently, on a brazilian TV called "Cultura", Chavez declared that there is actually a project to transform the whole Latin America into a communist society. In fact, communism failed in Soviet Union and sattelite countries, but triumphed into heads of Lula + Fidel + Chavez. What a shame, what a misfortune!

TSUNAMI - no forecast!

The world was deeply surprised by the catastroph occurred in the Indic sea at the end of Dec./2004. Over 155.800 people died until today, 7/1/2005, apart from the lost ones, due to the big waves (Tsunamis) caused by an earthquake in the Indic, that invaded costline cities. Thousands os locals and tourists died dragged by the waters. Some questions arise:

1. Why the so-called "Tsunami warning centers", located in Asia, failed to forecast?
2. Will those countries have enough help from UN and other organizations?
3. How can we (me and you) help those people?
4. Was the Tsunami some kind of "punishent from God" or something?

Human beings have very big capacity to ask questions; but not to answer them all! Some christians ventured (dangerously!) to say that - to some extent - the Tsunamis were some kind/form of punishment to those people who had been severely persecuting and kiling christians all over Asia (Indonesia, in particular). I myself do not believe this theory! GOD would be a killer Himself; not a SAVIOUR to punish thousands of innocents for the sins of their elders.

Notwithstanding, lots of questions still come afloat through our minds... I am afraid we should not, not in life, have all the answers... But GOD reigns, regardless of our questions, our complaints, our incapacity to understand some signals.

May GOD help those peoples in Asia - through all the hands, all the hearts, all the souls, regardless of their beliefs, their religions.